Ridding A Restroom Of Odors

Odors in a restroom are manageable if the cleaning service is allowed to deal with traffic and has the right tools and training to attack the job. In a prior article we described a worker’s restroom cart in an account complaining about restroom odors.

Following is a partial description of the cart: It was a collection of cleaning chemicals including a powdered cleaner, a partial gallon of old bleach, some blue stuff in a bottle, another bottle with skull and crossbones (23 percent hydrochloric acid), a pink bottle with disinfectant label, a half eaten candy bar, a soda cup, a worn out straw broom, a dirty dust pan and a mop bucket with what appeared to be a very old, moldy, tired string mop.

Our first order of business was to totally empty the cart, wash it down and restock it with only the chemicals necessary to do the job. This included all legally labeled bottles such as an all purpose cleaner and a disinfectant, glass cleaner. We removed the bleach, the bowl acid and replaced the mop bucket with a double bucket unit and a microfiber head with an enzyme cleaner for floors. We also got a plastic bristle (washable) broom and washed the dust pan. Finally, we taught the worker how to use color coded microfiber cloths that were laundered daily.

We then poured a solution of the enzyme solution into a very dry floor drain and proceeded to scrub the restroom from top to bottom focusing on the floor under the urinal. Our last task as we left the restroom each night was to mop our way out with the enzyme cleaner left on the floor. Note that the disinfectant was only for touch points such as the sinks, toilets, etc.

Within two weeks the deodorizers were removed thereby saving money for more important things since the restroom simply did not smell off anymore.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean…

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.